Friday, January 30, 2009

I wish I would have spent more time in my childhood journaling. Sure, I kept various diaries and journals, but I don’t think I ever completely filled one up entirely. Journaling requires a certain kind of discipline, and I struggled with writing down my thoughts as a child. Why waste good paper with my silly, boring, mediocre ramblings? (Like most young girls I also had a bit of a self-esteem problem, too.) Journal Buddies are a helpful and fun journaling option for children who, like me back then, just need a little inspiration.

Journal Buddies: A Girl's Journal for Sharing and Celebrating Magnificence by Jill Schoenberg helps build self-esteem in young girls and provides a way to get rid of the journaling “block.” It’s journaling done a different way! The journal is shared with one or more journal buddies. The buddies chosen can include friends, siblings, cousins, moms, grandparents and even dads! Journal Buddies promotes creative journaling - a combination of writing and scrapbooking through the use of stickers, photographs, and drawings that result in a personalized, unique journal. Best of all, it encourages kindheartedness and consideration of another’s feelings. Let’s face it – girls, especially tweens and teens, can be downright cruel to each other. A little kindness can really go a long way in boosting self-confidence.

The Journal Buddies book has room for 30 journal entries. A great introductory section provides helpful pointers and tips on how to use the book. It also includes a list of 89 creative journaling ideas. Basically, each journal entry has the following fill in spots: 1. Name of buddy friend and date2. Lines to list each others qualities traits and talents3. Blank pages with a special focus word for creative journaling. Some of the focus words options are beauty, giggle, possibilities, and gift.

I look forward to the time when my daughter is old enough to journal buddy with me. What a great, positive way to interact with your child! I also think that the journals would make a fun activity for girl scout troups and also might work well in certain classroom or educational settings. I’m kind of surprised they don’t offer a Christian version of the book for use with youth groups or the AWANA clubs. Once completed, the journal would most likely become a keepsake book to cherish forever, filled with great memories and shared moments. There is also a similar book for boys available titled Journal Buddies: A Boy's Journal for Discovering and Sharing Excellence. The books have won numerous awards including a 2008 Dove Foundation Family-Approved Seal and a 2008 Mom’s Choice Award.

It's a proven fact that journaling is a great way for kids to develop and improve their writing and language skills. Writing takes practice. The more you write, the better you get. Journaling also helps boost individuality, confidence and creativity. Journaling with a buddy gives an even bigger boost! The Journal Buddies books are available for purchase at the Journal Buddies Website or at Amazon.com.

This week I'm taking a break from "Full to the Brim." I have 4 different giveaways listed on the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival and hope that you will take the time to check out all the giveaways there (over 1000). You'll find books and lots of other random giveaways. Should keep you plenty busy for now!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Roses are Red,Violets are Blue,Fruit Roll-Ups are Sweet,And Customizable, Too!

Sometimes certain items or images trigger memory flashes. My latest encounter with Fruit Roll-Ups triggered one for me. In middle school it wasn’t "cool" to eat the hot lunch so I brought my lunch in a brown paper sack (lunch boxes were not cool either). My lunch usually consisted of some type of sandwich, a bag of chips, fruit and/or veggie and then something sweet. The something sweet more often than not was a strawberry Fruit Roll-Up. I loved to slowly unwrap, unroll, unpeel and eat the paper-thin treat. Haven’t had one for years, but I’m so glad for the recent reminder. Surely they’ll become a standby in our pantry now that we’ve had a sample.

So you can understand why this review is special for me. Yes, thanks to MyBlogSpark I had the chance to try out the customizable My Fruit Roll-Ups.

1. Choose a Canvas (They have awesome Valentine’s Day designs as well as birthday, graduation, pirates, princesses and even snowflakes!)2. Add Images and Messages to personalize your design. I added a photo of my kids. See the picture to the left. Click to make larger.3. Add to cart and name your design.4. Preview your design.5. Buy Now (30 rolls cost $29.99, plus shipping and tax).

It’s super easy the result is really unique and really fun for all! The shipping is pretty fast. We received our order in a little over a week. Our personalized Fruit Roll-Ups will go to our friends and family for Valentine’s Day, as long as I can keep all the little and big mongers away from the box! The ink used for printing the design does rub off a bit on the hands but it washes away just fine. It’s really a special treat and great for those special moments!

For a limited time at http://www.myfruitrollups.com you can save money by entering the code “freeshipping” to get your custom rolls sent to you for free!I'm giving away one (1) complimentary order of My Fruit Roll-Ups to a Brimful Curiosities reader. The winner will receive an online code to use for their free order (even includes the shipping)!

• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section. • Contest is open to US only • Contest ends on Monday, February 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 PM CST.• Winner will be chosen at random

Four ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 5):1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.4th extra entry: Fav my blog on technorati

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Welcome to Brimful Curiosities! This review/giveaway is my contribution to the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, (January 26-30, 2009). Head over there for all the great giveaways this week! And don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine is holding its first-ever Best Mommy Blogger awards! The five winning mommy bloggers will be profiled in the magazine’s June/July issue. The nomination period ends on February 13, 2009. There is no limit to the number of blogs you can nominate. Take a second to nominate your favorite Mommy Bloggers using their easy to fill out online nomination form (and consider nominating my Brimful Curiosities blog if you're a fan!): http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogcontest

"Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible, from complex word problems and the meaning of our history to scientific discovery and technological proficiency." - President Barack Obama

I fondly remember my own early reading journey. In first grade I was placed in the “bluebird” reading group and my introduction to the Dick and Jane stories began. Every evening my mom helped me with the marked pages. Without too many problems I eventually became proficient. Unfortunately, not all kids learn as easily. Parental involvement is key to early learning success, but where can parents turn if their kids need a little help?

I imagine you have heard of Sylvan Learning Centers from their television commercials. Now Sylvan has released a line of home-use supplemental products available for purchase online and at major book sellers.

The new Sylvan Learning products include a number of workbooks and kits intended for use at home. The products focus on reading and language skills. Only 3rd-5th grade level products are currently available for purchase but additional grade levels will be available later this year. The curriculum-based workbooks and kits have all been teacher-reviewed to help children get ahead and sharpen their reading, spelling and vocabulary skills. Best of all, the workbooks are based on Sylvan’s proven techniques for success.

Affordable (only $12.99 each), and easy to use, each soft cover workbook includes fun exercises, games and activities. Each book measures 8-1/2” inches by 11” and has 120 fill-in pages. The colorful, well-laid out sections engage children as they learn the basic building blocks to strong reading skills at their own pace. Students and parents can easily check answers using the handy Check-it strips. The Reading Comprehension Success workbook even offers individualized learning – kids can pick out books of their own choosing to complete some of the exercises! All in all, the workbooks offer parents a great way to become involved in their child’s reading success.

The Super Workbook includes all 3 above books (Spelling, Vocabulary and Reading) and is a great value at only $18.99.

Just reading through the workbooks brought back many memories of childhood reading lessons. It also reminded me just how much I've forgotten! The only thing seemingly missing from the supplemental product line are optional online activities. Perhaps Sylvan Learning will add those to their broad line in the future? In the meantime, the workbooks and kits will challenge your child, help them learn to think and reason for themselves, and beef up those ever-important reading and language skills.

• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section. • Contest is open to US only • Contest ends on Monday, February 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 PM CST.• Winner will be chosen at random

Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.

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Welcome to Brimful Curiosities! This review/giveaway is my contribution to the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, (January 26-30, 2009). Head over there for all the great giveaways this week! And don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

One of the first books my daughter received after she was born was the board book version of Olivia by Ian Falconer. We couldn't have had a better introduction to the lively little girl pig with a big imagination. Since then, my daughter has requested the Olivia stories to be read to her over and over again.

Today, January 26, 2009, Olivia can be seen starring in her own TV Series on Nickelodeon. We are excited to watch the premier! Visit these links to learn more about the new series:

Sunday, January 25, 2009

“Its title is Inkheart because it's about a man whose wicked heart is black as ink, filled with darkness and evil. I still like the title.” - Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Have you ever become so engrossed reading a book that the characters seem to come alive right off the page? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, maybe not. Read Inkheart – believe me, you’ll be glad you are able to shut your book and keep your life to yourself.

Meggie, the main character in Inkheart, and her father, Mo, a book binder, live surrounded by books. But Meggie soon finds that her life is more entangled in books than she realized. One day, a strange, fire-eating man named Dustfinger arrives, and the world she knew is never the same. It seems that her father has an unusual talent: he can read characters right out of stories. Nine years earlier he accidentally read characters out of a dark fantasy book called Inkheart, and an evil character named Capricorn and several other terrifying individuals came to life. After several years in hiding, Meggie along with her father, come face to face with the world of danger, adventure, and fantasy that is Inkheart. And, Meggie finally learns the terrible truth about the disappearance of her mother.

Inkheart is an amazing, highly imaginative fantasy sure to become a classic. It is also terrifying and full of violence and darkness. From fire and blood, to nightmarish images, it is best read by children over the age of 10. The book is also quite long, over 500 pages, but for a patient reader it is definitely worth the time.

Cornelia Funke skillfully weaves literary classics into Inkheart such as Peter Pan and Treasure Island. The story is also a wonderful study on the struggle between good and evil. These aspects make Inkheart a useful teaching tool and may encourage youth to read the classics. Inkheart is the first book in Funke's Inkheart trilogy. Inkheart, the motion picture, is now in theaters. I am excited to see how the movie compares to the massive, imaginative book.

Scholastic has kindly offered to give away (1) copy of Inkheart to a Brimful Curiosities reader.

To enter, visit Scholastic.com and leave a comment here telling me another Scholastic book that interests you.

• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section. • Contest is open to US only • Contest ends on Monday, February 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 PM CST.• Winner will be chosen at random

Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.

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Welcome to Brimful Curiosities! This review/giveaway is my contribution to the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, (January 26-30, 2009). Head over there for all the great giveaways this week! And don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

My children as they watch their first presidential inauguration and Barack Obama taking the Oath of Office as he becomes the 44th President of the United States of America.

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."- President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address, January, 20th, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

"Now I am green from my head to my toes. Doing my part for the environment shows. I buy food with care. I recycle and share. Keep spreading the word until everyone knows!"- I'm Turning Green by Rebecca Mattano

Kermit isn't the only one showing off his green lately. This year one of the more popular resolutions is to work toward living a greener lifestyle. Companies all over have incorporated green products into their lines. My husband has suddenly become obsessed with the Green channel on cable and thinks it would be great to "live off the grid" someday. But, up to this point, we really haven't taken the time to discuss any of this in detail with our pre-schooler daughter. Thankfully, there is a new book out just for the littlest green enthusiasts.

The Little Environmentalists has recently released a softcover picture book titled I'm Turning Green written by Rebecca Mattano. It's the Pinkalicious for the green kids. Instead of eating pink cupcakes, the little girl in I'm Turning Green takes part in activities to help out the environment and ends up turning green from head to toe. The book provides an excellent way to introduce the youngest child to eco-friendly practices. Readers follow a little girl as she recycles, conserves water, composts, saves energy and selects local, organic food.

The pictures in the book are unique, digitally altered photographs featuring a young girl's green journey and they cover the entirety of each page spread. The little girl in the book really does turn green! My daughter was slightly worried about the possibility of turning green herself, but she felt better after we explained to her that "turning green" is a figure of speech and really only means helping the earth. Special educational insets on many of the pages provide helpful insights into eco-friendly living. My daughter really enjoyed the I-spy aspect of the book, searching for items to compost and recycle on each page. The "earth notes" in the back of the book are especially helpful for parents and educators and include a lot of great information on how everyone can take strides to live a greener lifestyle.

The Little Environmentalists print their books out of 100% post-consumer waste and use environmentally friendly ink. The company is devoted to eco-friendly business practices and production and is based in Wisconsin. Rebecca Mattano, the author, is a mother to two young daughters and is also an adjunct professor in the field of Environmental Science.

• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section. • Contest is open to US only • Contest ends on Monday, February 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 PM CST.• Winner will be chosen at random

Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.

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Welcome to Brimful Curiosities! This review/giveaway is my contribution to the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, (January 26-30, 2009). Head over there for all the great giveaways this week! And don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Tomorrow, January 20th, 2009, is the inauguration of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America. Involve your children in this great historic event! There are lots of wonderful inauguration resources to use for inauguration celebrations and learning activities. Here are just a few:

And parents, this is a link to one of my favorite latest articles. In it, President-elect Barack Obama writes his future hopes and wishes for his children and all the children in our nation.PARADE Magazine - Barack Obama: A Letter to My Daughterswww.parade.com/obama

Sunday, January 18, 2009

"That buzzing-noise means something. If there's a buzzing noise, somebody's making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you're a bee."- Winnie the Pooh

I look forward to seeing how it compares to the classics. The Winnie the Pooh books are filled with so many great memorable little phrases. I really can't think of another children's book character that is as well known and loved as Pooh, and I can't imagine anyone else other than A.A. Milne with a talent for writing the Poohisms. By the way, today is A.A. Milne's birthday (18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) and also Winnie the Pooh Day!

Sorry to be missing from the blog front the past few days. We've been battling the ills and haven't been getting much done. Friday's Full to the Brim post will be combined with Monday's post. Also look for some great giveaways coming up this week here on Brimful Curiosities!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Wow, Reading Rainbow has been airing for quite awhile! I remember watching it as a kid and wanting to check out all the books discussed on the show from my local library. LeVar is still there with all the great reads (he's been the host since the show began over 25 years ago!) Take some time to visit the Reading Rainbow website. There's lots of guides, games, printables and activities available for kids.

The 2009 Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest is now open for entries. Kids in kindergarten through third grade can enter a story they write and illustrate. Check your local PBS station for more information. This is the 15th year the contest has been held. Looks like the submissions are due around the end of March 2009.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Looks like a big year for books to movies. I just watched the Parents magazine "Top Trends for Parents and Families in 2009" on GoodyBlog and saw that quite a few children's books will be on the big screen soon:

About Me

Brimful Curiosities is a mom blog/book blog featuring reviews and posts on children's books, music, educational products, toys and more. It's home to the weekly "Full to the Brim" Kid's Book Giveaway List. Occasionally it includes non-children related product and book reviews and personal postings.